Automatic steam sand drier



Aug? E2 9 1924,79 1,504,996

' J. P. voss AUTOMATIC swam sum DRIER Filed Jan. 17. 1924 I HM IHHH 7 WNWWNW/mj F v .HIWHW W Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC' JOHN PIN'CKNIE-Y VOSS, OF DUBACH, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF GATE-HALF TO VANDA ARTHUR DAVIDSON, OF DUBAGH, LOUISIANA.

AUTOMATIC STEAM SAND DRIER.

Application filed January 17, 1924. Serial No. 686,828.

aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, JOHN P. Voss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Du-. bach, in the parish of Lincoln and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Automatic Steam Sand Drier, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a steam drier adapted to be used for drying sand, and other substances of a similar nature. In industries where a great deal of dry sand is used, as, for instance, in the operation of lecomotives, the preparation of the same as i; cherto carried out involves in the aggregate an enormous expense, requiring as it does a great amount of fuel and the continrmus attention of a number of employees.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of a drier, simple in its construction, which may be manufactured and installed at a small initial expense, which utilizes to the fullest extent the heat supplied thereto, and which may be operated continuously and automatically, re- :55 quiring only the occasional services of a man to supply a fresh charge of material thereto.

The device, by means of which these objects are attained, includes a box or hopper of novel construction, into which the sand or 80 other material is placed, and which contains steam radiating pipes arranged in an improved manner, so that all of the heat is utilized in drying the same, and the latter as it becomes dry works toward an outlet formed in the bottom of the hopper, and is discharged therefrom.

The detailed construction of the invention and the principles of its operation willbe more fully explained in connection with the invention in its preferred form.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the invention, with portions thereof broken away and shown in section, in order to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken sub stantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, and taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawing, the invention includes a box or hopper 5 supported on a frame 6, and having a vertical back 7 connected by vertical ends 8 to a front wall 9,

accon'ipanying drawing, which illustrates the which is inclined downwardly and inwardly at an angle of approximately 60 to the horizontal. The bottom 10 extends from the back wall 7 downwardly and forwardly at an inclination of about 30 to the horizontal, and is substantially perpendicular to the front wall 9, the lower edge of which is spaced from the bottom to form a slot 11 extending from end to end of the box, and through which the dry sand is discharged.

The heating device comprises a number of manifolds 12 located adjacent the bottom 10, and in communication with each other through transverse passageways 13, which may be of any suitable construction. The ends of the manifolds are closed by caps 14, one of which is provided with an inlet opening 15 to which a steam supply pipe 16 is connected. This supply pipe may be secured to the end of the box by a U-bolt 17, or other suitable fastening means. Each manifold 12 has connected thereto a series of radiating pipes 18 extending upwardly therefrom within the box 5, capped, as shown at 19. Each series of pipes 18 is preferably arranged in an upwardly and forwardly inclined plane, parallel to the front wall 9. The steam supply pipe 16 is connected to one end of one manifold 12, while the other end of the other manifold is provided'with an outlet nipple 20, ex; tending underneath the lower edge of the front wall 9, and secured thereto by an ear or hanger 21. The outer end of the nipple F is provided with a valve 22, through which may be drained the water produced by the condensation of the steam.

.In the operation of this invention, the steam supply pipe 16 may be connected to any one of the boilers used in the roundhouse, and the device may ordinarily be operated by steam, which would otherwise be wasted. The hopper 5 is kept practically full of sand, and the sand which is next to the pipes 18 begins drying first, and as the wet sand, which remains adjacent the vertical back 7 is heavier than the dry sand, it will have a tendency to slide or fall forwardly toward the sloping front wall 9, and will aid in forcing the dry sand toward the opening 11. The sand, as it becomes dry, will sift through the opening 11, and its progress will be facilitated by a slight vibration in the pipes 18, which is set up by the and having their upper ends live steam coming into contact with the water of condensation. The inclination of the pipes 18 causes the steam to follow the upper sides of the pipes, and the water of condensation naturally returns along the lower sides of these pipes, thus insuring a constant circulation. The vapor and gases which are produced by the heating of the sand near the bases of the pipes 18, works upwardly through the sand above and causes an initial heating of the same, which aids materially in expediting the final drying process, which takes place as the sand comes into contact or proximity with the pipes 18, and also utilizes to the fullest extent the heat supplied to the box and increases its efficiency.

The dimensions of the various elements of the invention will vary somewhat, according to the capacity desired, or the purpose for which it is used. It has been found satisfactory, however, to construct the manifolds 12 from sections of four inch cast iron pipe, andto have the pipes 18 one inch in diameter and thirty-six inches long. These details, however, as well as the relative arrangementof. the various-parts are subject to considerable modification, without departing'from'the salient features of the in-V vention as herein set forth and. claimed. The-invention is also capable of use in other relations, wherever it is desired to dry ma terial by the use'ofsteam.

i/Vhat is claimedis:

L'A steam drier for sand and. the like, comprising-a box, a steam manifold within the box near its bottom, and a series of pipes extending upwardly from the manifold and having individualcapped ends.

2. A steam drier for sand and the like, comprising a box with one side vertical and the other side inclined inwardly and downwardly, a steam manifold within the box near its bottom, and a series of pipes extending upwardly from the manifold in an in clined plane substantially parallel to the inclined wall.

3. A steam drier for sand and the like, comprising a box, a steam manifold within the box near its bottom, and a series of pipes extending upwardly from the manifold in an inclined plane and having individual capped ends.

4. A steam drier for sand and the like, comprising a box, a manifold within the box near its bottom and having a steam inlet at one end and a valve controlled water outlet at the other end, and a series of pipes extending upwardly from the manifold in an inclined plane.

5. in a drier, a box having vertical bacli and end walls, and a. front wall inclined upwardly and forwardly with its lower edge spaced from the edge of the bottom to form a discharge slot for the sand, and a heating device in close proximity to the inclined front wall.

6. In a drier, a box having vertical end and back walls, a front wall inclined up wardly and forwardly, and a bottom inclined downwardly and forwardly and per pcndicular to the front wall, said front *all having its lower edge spaced from the bot-- tom to form a discharge slot for the sand, and a heating device in close proximity to the inclined front wall.

7. in a drier, a box having vertical end and back ails, and a front wall inclined upwardly fiCl forwardly with its lower edge spaced from the bottom to form a discharge slot for the sand, a steam manifold within the box near its bottom, and a series of pipes extenoing upwardly from the manifold substantially parallel to the front wall of the box and having individual capped ends.

8. In a drier, a box having a downwardly inclined bottom, an inwardly inclined front wall, and an outlet at the junction of the bottom and front wall, and a heating device within the box and arranged above the bottom. 7

,9. In drier, a box having a downwardly inclined bottom, an inwardly inclined front wall, and an outlet at the junction of the bottom and front wall, and a heating device within the box and arranged above the bottom, said heating device consisting of a series of pipes arranged at an inclination and in spacednpart relation.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto a'l'lixed my signature.

JOHN PINOKNEY voss. 

